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Report 62: July 17, 2014

Updated:

This week's featured restaurant: The Front Room, Portland

If you suspect you got sick from eating out or if you'd like to lodge a complaint about food safety or cleanliness, you can contact the Health Inspection Program at 287-5671. For emergency consultation and disease reporting, you can call the emergency hotline at 800-821-5821.

Health inspectors say, just because a restaurant fails inspection, you shouldn't stop going, even saying inspections are meant to give people a snapshot into what's happening behind kitchen doors. Report 62: July 17, 2014

KENNEBUNK / PORTLAND (WGME) -- A 5-star restaurant didn’t get such a glowing review the last time a health inspector stopped by for a regular health inspection. The White Barn Inn in Kennebunk failed inspection with 15 health code violations, seven of which the inspector considered foodborne illness risk factors.

The inspector says he found toxic chemicals stored with food. He also says a dishwasher was handling both clean and dirty dishes without washing hands or changing gloves. According to the report, food-contact surfaces and utensils weren’t clean to sight and touch, specifically the inspector was concerned about a meat slicer.

CBS 13 reached out to the restaurant for comment, chef Jonathan Cartwright says, “We fully accept that at the time of the inspection, we fell short of our usual high standards.” He also says, “The shortcomings that were identified were immediately rectified and we have implemented additional procedures to prevent similar oversights.”

The White Barn Inn corrected all the issues, and passed the follow-up inspection.

Meanwhile, a fast-food place earned a flawless health inspection. The health inspector didn’t find one health code violation during his last visit to Wendy’s on Warren Avenue in Portland. They earn this week’s CBS 13 Gold Plate Award.

Meanwhile, the James Beard Foundation Award semi-finalists are out, and they include three restaurants and a baker from Maine. To see the entire list, click here.